The Difference A Day Makes

I'll admit that some days gratitude is much harder to come by than others. Yesterday we received good news about our growing baby and giving thanks was instictive. Today I found out an opportunity I had been hoping and praying for wasn't going to materialize. My first instincts were not to give thanks but to start counting all the ways life had just become more challenging.

Perspective helped me realize that life hadn't changed much at all really. All of the blessings that were present and accounted for yesterday showed right back up today. The only thing missing was the hope of an opportunity that might have somehow made life better. There have been many such opportunities I have been denied in the past that upon reflection were blessings and not missed chances. They were blessings because God chose to go with his plan in those situations and not mine. He has proven beyond a doubt to be a better planner than me, so I'll go with him on this one.

Its also helpful to have the long drive home with Elliott. His chatter for the first twenty minutes seemed to be a staged pep rally, at least that's the purpose it served. And even when he abandoned the cheering in mid-sentence for a heavy sleep, he managed to remain an inspiration.

Any thoughts I had of going to bed feeling bad tonight were forever dismissed by the bearded bath wonder at the top of the page. Mama thought the picture looked a bit spooky. Maybe, but its one of those small things that are much bigger than any disappointments this day had to offer.